Russiantortmom1
New Member
Hello, I have had my tortoise for two years now, she is about 6 years old Russian Tortoise. When I first got her I got a long Guinea pig wire enclosure, the height was perfect and she did well with her lighting (100 W uvb zoomed powersun) and everything, no issues. Then I started having trouble with the lights first, the zoomed powersun lights would not last, I buy the 100W and they go out in less than a month, the last one I bought didn't even turn on. I made sure I bought the right dome light and everything. So I have now decided not to buy this brand of light anymore. However a lot has had to change recently for my Tortoise and I do not know how to improve it. 1st I had to get her a new enclosure, because the bottom of her last one was a lined cloth and the attachment loops were ripped to the point of the bottom not being able to attach to the cage after my last move. I tried to find the exact cage and our wonderful pet industry has of course done away with this perfect cage. I did not want to go to the small little tank enclosures that the pet stores sale because 1) cost 2) size for cost and 3) I would rather her have an open type cage, than a glass tank. But the only thing I can now find as far as something similar to my previous cage are really tall rabbit hutch style cages. I got one, hoping I could make the lighting work but the height is around 20 inches or a little more (depending on the freshness of her bedding) from her bedding, the minimum apparent inches for correct UVB with the 100W exposure for hertortoise type is at most 16" and thats at the lower end of correct UVB exposure. I can get a stronger bulb I know, I was considering going up to 160w for this cage, but now my concern is the heat. I had gone down to an 80 w UVB hoping I could get the heat and exposure right for the summer, the heat is great around 98-99 at the highest, but the UVB exposure was not correct and since last night she started showing signs of upper respiratory. I very quickly put her in a hospice bin and switched her light to a 100w Thrive brand UVB but the problem is the bin is 12.5 inches tall (which is ideal for UVB exposure), but the heat index will go up to 104 degrees F in the hottest spot of the light and that is too hot for her and she won't fully sun bathe and this is the problem anytime I get these bulbs in an appropriate range. Her new enclosure is split level, so I thought I would try the UVB over the top level, but her favorite spot to stay is the bottom level. I will include a pic but I am about to clean her enclosure out since she is in a hospice bin now, so the bedding will change, but this is how it looks and how her lights are, she has a regular day light (no heat) and very strong heat only light that is not on all of the time, only in the winter or cool mornings, and the UVB. But when I have the light at the top of the tank the heat is good and I even turn on an extra little heat lamp for a little bit during the morning time and she will sit under them, but I know the UVB is questionable even at the 100W. So, do I just go up to a 160 W for this cage height? so she gets UVB at the bottom of the cage, Do I get two different UVB lights, one strong for the bottom of the tank (Around 21" H) and one at like an 80w or maybe 100 W for the top of the tank (around 16" H) ? or does anyone have recommendations on what to do either for how to get the uvb and heat right for this cage set up or how to get a good enclosure that is easy to clean and has lots of room for her to roam in ? OR even what the heck is going on with these UVB ligths, I do not have a ton of money to spend anymore and I have been exchanging these UVB lights for the past few months because they just keep going out, I am hoping Thrive is a good brand. but I cannot stand all of this lighting and cage and heat nonsense. I would love some help please, thank you.
PS. I completely forgot about tortoise tables, I am thinking of moving her to one of these, any suggestions?
PS. I completely forgot about tortoise tables, I am thinking of moving her to one of these, any suggestions?
Attachments
Last edited: